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Duke  University  Libraries 


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REPORT 


LOUISIANA    RELIEF    LODGE,    NO.   1, 

TO    TIIK 

M.  W.   GRAND  LODGE  OF   LOUISIANA, 

SUBMITTED    FEBRUARY    11.    18GI. 


jj@*The  attention  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  contributing  Lodges  is 
called  to  the  following  resolution,  passed  at  the  meeting  of 
Louisiana  Relief  Lodge,  No.  1,  held  May  5,  1861, 

"Resolved,  That  1000  copies  of  the  Report  of  this  Lodge  to  ilie  M.  W.  Grand 
Lodge  be  printed  for  distribution  among  the  members  of  the  contributing  Lodges, 
and  that  the  Secretary  of  this  Lodge  request  the  Secretaries  of  the  contributing 
Lodges  to  distribute  them  among  their  individual  mem 


To  the  M.  W.  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Slate  of  Louisiana: 

On  the  return  of  another  Annual  Communication,  Louisiana  Relief 
Lodge,  No.  1,  begs  leave  to  present  the  following  report : 

And  first,  we  would  render  our  grateful  homage  to  the  Grand 
Architect  of  the  Universe  for  his  loving-kindness  towards  us  during 
the  past  year,  in  blessing  our  city  with  health,  and  keeping  far  from 
our  midst  the  devouring  pestilence.  While  we  have  escaped  the 
great  personal  exertion  and  increased  expenditure  which  attends  an 
epidemic,  the  calls  for  assistance  have  been  no  less  urgent  and 
frequent.  Misfortune  and  disappointment,  sickness  and  death,  and 
the  widow  and  the  orphan,  are  always  in  our  midst,  appealing  for 
aid,  assistance  and  consolation.     More  especially  has  this  been  the 


case  towards  the  close  of  the  past  j'ear.  Causes,  which  are  familiar 
to  all,  entirely  deranged  business — numbers  were  thrown  out  of 
situations,  and  the  multitudes  who  flock  to  this  city  every  fall  in 
search  of  employment  were  doomed  to  disappointment.  Among 
them  were  a  large  number  of  Masons,  and  to  the  relief  of  the  worthy, 
so  far  as  our  means  would  permit,  have  our  charities  been  extended. 
Substantially  the  same  system  has  been  pursued,  and  this  has  been 
explained  so  often,  that  it  is  deemed  superfluous  to  repeat  it. 

It  may  not,  however,  be  irrelevant  to  remark,  (hat  the  greater  number 
of  applications  for  relief  are  from  unaffiliated  Masons,  and  those 
generally  from  jurisdictions  which  do  not  publish  the  returns  of  their 
Subordinate  Lodges.  Diplomas  are  occasionally  exhibited  of  ancient 
dates,  and  relief  claimed  as  a  right  on  the  strength  of  the  parchment, 
even  when  the  applicant  cannot  prove  himself.  In  one  instance, 
forty-three  years  had  elapsed,  according  to  the  statment  of  the  ap- 
plicant, since  he  had  visited  his  Lodge,  or  contributed  one  cent  to 
the  support  of  the  Order.  This  is  an  extreme  case,  but  it  is  no  rare 
occurrence  to  have  applications  for  relief  from  those  who,  for  periods 
of  ten  or  fifteen  years,  have  been  in  the  same  situation.  Our  by- 
laws prohibit  the  recognition  of  any  such  claims,  and  as  far  as  pos- 
sible they  are  adhered  to.  When  there  is  a  reasonable  doubt,  and 
the  case  is  urgent,  the  applicant  has  the  benefit  of  it ;  but  in  such 
cases,  the  publication  of  the  lists  of  membership  by  all  the  Grand 
Lodges  would  be  a  check  upon  the  unworthy. 

In  the  absence  of  such  lists,  and  also  in  cases  of  doubt,  we  have 
adopted  the  system  of  writing  for  information  to  the  jurisdiction 
from  whence  the  applicants  hail.  As  a  general  rule,  our  communi- 
cations have  been  answered  and  valuable  information  obtained,  and, 
in  particular,  we  would  return  onr  thanks  to  Bro.  J.  M.  Austin,  Grand 
Secretary  of  New  York,  and  Bro.  Thco.  Parvin,  Grand  Secretary  of 
Iowa,  for  the  promptness  with  which  they  have  answered  our  fre- 
cpuent  inquiries. 

We  would  respectfully  call  the  attention  of  the  Grand  Lodge  to 
the  practice  which  prevails  in  some  jurisdictions  of  conferring  side- 
degrees  upon  females.  Numerous  applications  for  relief  are  made* 
and  assistance  claimed  as  a  right  upon  the  strength  of  these  so-called 
degrees.  Knowing  nothing  of  them  per  se,  the  Relief  Lodge  can 
recognize  no  such  claims,  but  when  the  applicant  can  satisfy  us  that 
she  is  worthy  and  entitled  to  our  aid,  it  is  always  liberally  extended, 


and  we  can  see  no  benefit  to  be  gained  by  innovations  and  inventions, 
which,  however  harmless  in  themselves,  have  been  often  found  in  the 
possession  of  the  worthless  and  the  vile. 

During  the  past  year,  the  Relief  Lodge  Tomb,  in  Greenwood 
Cemetery,  has  been  entirely  renovated,  and  a  new  wing  built,  con- 
taining twenty-four  vaults,  and  corresponding  in  all  respects  with 
the  original  structure.  The  contract  for  this  work  was  Si, 500.  Of 
this  amount,  $1,000  has  been  paid,  and  a  note  for  $500,  due  1st  of 
April,  given  for  the  balance.  When  this  improvement  was  under- 
taken, the  Relief  Lodge  had  even  prospect  to  meet  the  payment  of 
this  note,  but  the  heavy  drain  upon  our  treasury  at  the  close  of  the 
past,  and  beginning  of  the  present  year,  almost  forbids  such  a  hope. 
Under  these  circumstances,  it  may  become  necessary  to  draw  that 
amount  from  the  funds  belonging  to  the  Relief  Lodge,  which  were 
loaned  to  the  Grand  Lodge  Hall,  and  should  such  an  emergency  oc- 
cur, we  have  no  doubt  that  the  Board  of  Directors  will  enable  us  to 
meet  promptly  our  engagements. 

There  is  still  another  wing  to  be  built,  before  the  Tomb  will  be 
completed  according  to  the  original  design.  At  present  there  are 
aixty-four  vaults,  besides  the  receiving  vault — when  completed,  there 
will  be  ninety-six  vaults.  Our  intention  is  to  complete  it  as  soon  as 
circumstances  will  permit,  and  thus  secure  a  last  resting  place  to 
those  brethren  of  other  jurisdictions  who  may  happen  to  die  among  us. 

Our  Secretary,  Bro.  A.  DcSola,  has  prepared  the  following  state- 
ment of  the  Receipts  and  Expenditures  of  the  Relief  Lodge  for  the 
year  1860  : 

RECEIPTS. 

Balance  on  hand  January  1,  1860 , $1,024  (J1 

Received  from  Friends  of  Harmony  Lodge,  No.  58 $281  00 

"         "       George  Washington  Lodge,  No.  65 333  00 

'«         "       Dudley  Lodge,  No.  66 237  00 

"         "       Marion  Lodge,  No.  68 2(J3  75 

"       Alpha  Home  Lodge,  No.  72 80  00 

««       Quitman  Lodge,No.  76 263  25 

"         "       Louisiana  Lodge,  No.  102 50  00 

Home  Lodge,  No.  142,  (old  balance) 48  00 

u         "      Ocean  Lodge,  No.  144 180  00 

1,768  00 

Amount  forwarded $2,792  9] 


Amounl  brought  forward $2,70ii  9] 

Donation  from  Grand  Lodge  of  Connecticut , 245  50 

"       Grand  Lodge  of  Georgia 100  00 

"  "        Grand  Consistory  of  Louisiana  90 

"       Washington  Naval  Lodge,  No.  4,  D.  C 25  00 

"       Doric  Lodge,  No.  280,  New  York 35  00 

"        "      Mount  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  40,  Saint  Louis 10  00 

P.  <i.  M.    Win.  M.   Perkins 81   75 

448  15 


Returned  by  two  Ohio  brethren 40  00 

a   St.  Louis  brother 10  00 

a  Texas  brother 15  00 

an  Iowa  brother 15  00 

"        a  Louisiana  brother 30  00 

"          a  Pennsylvania  brother 10  00 


Returned  by  Bro.  Walter  Nicol,  amount  paid  him  in  error. 

Received  for  use  of  vaults 

"         Premium  on  Draft 


120 

00 

480 

00 

35  00 

40 

Total  receipts $3,876  46 

Total  disbursements  for  1860 3,087  15 


$     789  31 

Orders  in  hands  of  Secretary  not  cashed $365  00 

Due  by  Secretary 02 

365  02 


Amount  in  treasury,  December  31,  1860. 


.$     424  29 


DISBURSEMENTS. 

To  applicants  from  Alabama $ 

"  •'     Arkansas 

"  "     California 

"  "     District  of  Columbia 

"  "     Georgia 

"  "     Illinois 

"  "     Indiana 

"  "     Iowa 

"  "     Kansas 


Amount  forwarded $212  50 


10  00 

10  00 

55  00 

30  00 

10  00 

37  50 

15  00 

20  00 

25  00 

5 

Amount  brought  forward $212  50 

To  applicants  from  Kentucky 67  50 

k  "  Maine 35  00 

»  Maryland 12  00 

"  '•  Massachusetts 15  00 

(<  "  Michigan 5  00 

"  ■•  Minnesota 10  00 

"  "  Mississippi 55  00 

<<  "  Missouri 121  00 

'•  ••  New  Hampshire 10  00 

'«  "  New  Jersey 5  00 

••  New  York 222  00 

it  «  Ohio >r>5  00 

•  <  ■•  Pennsylvania 104  00 

«  Rhode  Island 10  00 

••  South  Carolina 105  00 

'•  Texas 1%  00 

••  Virginia 79  00 

«  Wisconsin 20  00 

$1,338  00 

••  Antigua,  We-t  Indies*  $   10  00 

"  ••  Jamaica.  West  Indies* 65   00 

•■     NovaScotia*' 30  00 

$105  00 

"     France 20  00 

•'     Holland 12  50 

"     Ireland 67  00 

••     Scotland 60  0t) 

264  50 

To  Masons  of  Louisiana $  120  00 

To  Widows  and  Orphans  of  Louisiana  153  00 

273  00 

Repairs  and  additions  to  Tomb $1000  0l> 

Tomb  Expenses 121  00 

1,121  00 

Secretary's  Salary  for  1860 60  00 

Tyling,  stationary,  postage,  etc 30  25 

Discount  on  uncurrcnt  monej" 40 

Total  Disbursements  for  the  year  1860 $3,087  15 


*  Lodges  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England. 


6 

RECAPITULATION  OF  DISBURSEMENTS. 

To  Masons  of  Louisiana $  120  00 

"  other  State  jurisdictions 9%  00 

"  Foreign  jurisdictions  244  50 

$1,360  50 

To  Widows  and  Orphans  of  Louisiana $>  153  00 

"  "  other  State  jurisdictions 342  00 

"  "  Foreign  jurisdictions 20  00 

515  00 

Total  relief  granted  in  1800 1,875  50 

Repairs  and  addition  to  Tomb  1,000  00 

Tomb  Expenses 121  00 

Secretary's  salary,  tyling,  etc 90  25 

Discount  on  uncurrent  money  40 

Total  disbursements $3,087  15 

We  have  again  to  return  our  thanks  for  the  sympathy  and  assist- 
ance extended  to  us  by  other  jurisdictions.  A  glance  at  our  receipts 
will  show  that  during  the  past  year  the  Grand  Lodges  of  Connecticut 
and  Georgia  have  shown  their  appreciation  of  our  labors  by  donating 
to  us  material  aid.  Washington  Naval  Lodge,  No.  4,  D.  C. ;  Doric 
Lodge,  No.  280,  New  York  ;  and  Mount  Moriah  Lodge,  No.  40,  St. 
Louis,  have  also  testified  their  approval  of  our  "work"  in  the  same 
manner. 

To  that  true  and  steadfast  friend  of  the  Relief  Lodge,  Past  Grand 
Master  Win.  M.  Perkins,  we  again  return  our  thanks  for  his  annual 
donation  of  $31  15. 

A  pleasing  feature  in  the  present  report  is  the  amounts  returned 
by  individual  Masons  who  have  been  assisted  by  the  Relief  Lodge. 
Considering  the  numbers  relieved,  who,  notwithstanding  their  promise, 
do  not  even  write  to  us  after  they  have  reached  their  homes,  those 
brethren  who  have  kept  their  faith  are  deserving  of  all  praise  ;  and 
it  is  a  matter  of  congratulation  to  us  to  kwow  that  our  charities 
have  been  bestowed  upon  some  who  have  proved  themselves  truly 
worthy. 

Hoping  that  our  "work"  may  be  ever  such  as  to  merit  a  continu- 
ance of  the  approbation  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  this  report  is  respect- 
fully and  fraternally  submitted  on  behalf  of  the  Lodge. 

JAMES  B.  SCOT,  W.  M., 

Louisiana  Relief  Lodge,  No.  1. 


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